FONTANA, Calif. – During a media availability Friday morning at Auto Club (Calf.) Speedway, Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Danica Patrick sounded off at NASCAR about their decision to fine drivers for their actions on and off the race tracks.
Furthermore, Patrick, driver of the No. 10 Stewart-Haas Ford elaborated that good television should not result in a driver being fined.
Her comments stemmed from NASCAR’s decision to not penalize Austin Dillon after he used his car to retaliate against fellow driver Cole Custer late in last Saturday’s DC Solar 200 at Phoenix Raceway.
“Give me my money back,” she said.
Patrick speaks from personal experience, having been fined twice in the last two Cup seasons for on-track incidents. Two years ago in the fall race at Martinsville Speedway, Patrick was fined $50,000 after she ran into Front Row Motorsports driver David Gilliland under caution.
“I think NASCAR makes a really big mistake of fining for some stuff, especially something that happens in the car because it makes for good TV,” Patrick said. “Just like fights and all that stuff. We can handle it. I think it’s a mistake. I might be speaking too much, but personally, I’ve been fined a few times, and I think that it makes for good TV and I think we handle it out on the track ourselves.”
Last year, she was also monetarily fined for walking on a hot track to show her displeasure to driver Kasey Kahne. Patrick while running in the top-20 had been wrecked by Kahne going into Turn 1 later in the race after being hooked in the right rear corner.
However, NASCAR’s decision to take a hands-off approach to incident in recent weeks has certainly opened the door for discussion.
The decision not to penalize Dillon came a week after NASCAR did not take any action for the post-race scuffle in Las Vegas between Cup drivers Kyle Busch which initiated after Busch took a swing at Logano after being taken out on the last lap of the race.
Moving forward, Patrick said she would rather NASCAR no-action approach stand.
“What does that (being fined) really do?” Patrick asked. “I’m not going to not go on vacation. I would actually rather know what (the fine money) did.”
For several years, money paid through fines was placed into the driver points that was distributed at the end of the season at the banquet. Starting in 2008, however, NASCAR mandated all fines would be towards the NASCAR Foundation.
The NASCAR Foundation seeks to raise funds and increase volunteerism to support nonprofit charities and charitable causes with an emphasis placed on initiatives that affect the ability of children to live, learn and play.
“I would actually love to see the playground that got built for it or homeless people that got food,” Patrick continued. “So, what does it really do? I’d like to see that.”
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
